jensen



:No Model. 2 sheets sheet 2.

M. JENSEN.

CAN SOLIDERING MACHINE; No. 555,247. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

-1 w 3151 "rigii'iigfiiiig NiTEn STATES PATENT OEEicE.

1 ATIIIAS JENSEN, OF ASTORIA, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE JENSENCAN FILLING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN SOLDERlNG MACHINE.

S?ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,247, dated February25, 1896.

Application filed October 3, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HATHIAS JENSEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Astoria, county of Olatsop, State of Oregon, have inventedan Improvement in Can-Soldering Machines; and I hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for soldering cans, andit is especially applicable to the soldering of the end seams of square,oval, and other shaped cans in a single machine.

It consists of a series of stalls adapted to receive and turn the cansso that the seams are dipped into the molten solder, the stalls beingcarried over the solder by a horizontally-moving carrier, and being soconstructed that the cans are movable between the parallel sides of thestalls while being rolled on their largest diameter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2is a transverse section on line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear side view.Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the carriers and the pusher. Figs. 5 to 8,inclusive, show different positions of oval and square cans while beingrolled during the process of soldering. Fig. 9 is a modification showingthe carrier moved by a horizontal wheel in place of an endless belt.

The apparatus consists of a frame A bolted to legs A and A Upon thisframe is supported a soldering-trough B, and an angleplate B is boltedto the soldering-trough in such a position that the upturned edge servesas a guide against which one end of the cans abut while passing throughthe machine. A steel bar 13 is fixed within the solderingtroughsufficiently submerged so that as the cans rest against the angle-plateB the lower angle of the can will travel upon the submerged bar at sucha depth that solder will be properly applied to the same as the canpasses through the apparatus. The stalls D, which receive and roll thecans, are each fastened to one end of an axle D, these axles beingjournaled in a carrier D at right angles with the face of the angle-plate B. The stalls are preferably of essentially E shape inlongitudinal sectionthat is, each stall has two Serial No. 564,545. (Nomodel.)

opposing walls 10, an open front and a closed back 12, from which latterprojects the axle about which the stall turns. The carriers D aresecured to an endless sprocket-chain E, which passes over twosprocket-wheels E and E one located at each end of the machine.

The sprocket-wheel E is fastened to the driving-axle F, which is journaled in the support G, and the sprocket-wheel E is loosely mountedupon the shaft E, which is fastened in a box IE clamped to the support Gby two bolts which pass through oblong holes in the support and arethreaded into the box, as shown in Fig. 3. The oblong holes allow adjustment for tightening or loosening the chain E.

The support G is clamped to the frame A by two bolts G, and these passthrough vertical slots in the support and are threaded into the frame.The latter has two lugs G which project with an angle beneath thesupport G, and a screw G is threaded through each of said angular lugs,abutting against the support to prevent the latter from slippingdownward. The oblong holes for the screws G allow the support G, withthe sprocket-wheel, chain-carriers, stalls, &c., to be raised or loweredon the incline of the frame A to accommodate different diameters of canswhich may be soldered by the machine.

In order to revolve the stalls D with the cans, and thus roll thelatter, a tumbler H is fastened on the end of each of the axles D,opposite to the end on which the stalls D are fastened. Each of saidtumblers has two pairs of arms standing at right angles with each otherand at opposite ends of the tumbler 11. Tracks H are disposed beneaththese arms and the tracks are so arranged with relation to each other asto engage either one or the other set of arms and turn the cans at theproper time. Vhen oval cans are being operated upon the cams H are madewith a sinuous or wavy surface, as shown plainly in Fig. 3, and arefixed to the support G. These cams so stand with relation to each otherthat when two of the arms are following the convex upper curvature ofone of the cams, the other arm standing at right angles therewith, thelowermost of said arms will be passing through the depression orconcavity of its cam-surface, and when this arm commences to move up theconvex portion of its cam so as to revolve the stall and can connectedwith it, the other arm will, in turn, follow the concavity of itscam-surface. These arms thus alternately lie flatwise upon the convexityof the cams and follow this surface so as to partly turn the stalls andcans contained by them, and then pass into the concavity, while theother arm, in the same manner, will tilt so as to follow the convexityof its cam. This alternate operation of the two sets of arms acts toturn the stalls and the contained cans so as to submerge the wholecircumference of the angle to be soldered before the can reaches the endof the solder-trough.

The carriers D rest at one end on a straight portion of the support Gand at the other end on a straight rib which is cast with the cam H, andthese surfaces extend the full length of the soldering-trough.

At each end of the machine is a plate I, fastened to the support G, saidplates having semicurcular edges which engage one pair of the arms ofthe tumblers H and thus prevent the latter from revolving while passingaround the ends of the machine.

A guide J is fixed to the legs A A of the machine, and this supports thecarriers D while they are returning along the lower portion of theirtravel. This guide has also a straight rib or portion which engages onepair of the arms of the tumblers H, so that while passing over thisportion of their travel they lie flat without turning and will alwaysarrive at the front end of the machine with the stalls D inproper-position to receive the cans.

K is an upright secured to the front end of the machine, and a pulley Kis mounted loosely on its shaft 1, the latter being fastened to theupright. The belt K passes around this pulley and with anothercorresponding pulley, (not here shown,) and this belt serves totransport the cans to the machine.

Any suitable power is employed to drive the pulleys and belt. At the endof the belt is a vertical chute having a curved segmental portion nearthe top, into which the cans are delivered from the belt, and the canspass down this chute and are delivered from its lower end into thestalls as the latter pass.

The mechanism for regulating the feeding of the cans from the chute intothe machine consists of two triggers M and M. These are fulcrumed uponthe pin M which is fixed to the chute and held in position, as shown inFig. 3, by a coiled spring surrounding the shaft or pin M as plainlyshown in Fig. 3. One end of this spring is fastened to the trigger M andthe other to a fixed collar upon the pin M The trigger M has abell-crank form, and its angle is fulcrumed upon the pin M The lowermostarm projecting outwardly from the fulcrumpoint is connected with acoil-spring M, which tends to draw this arm upward and correspondinglyforce the vertical arm inwardly. The point M of this vertical armextends into the channel of the chute and normally intercepts the cansso as to prevent their passing down through the chute. The movement ofthe trigger in this direction is determined by the stop-pin M attachedto the upper end of the trigger H, against which the trigger M isnormally held by the spring M. The tension of the coilspring ill issufficientto overcome the tension of the spring M and it thus holds bothtriggers normally in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the pin Mprojecting from the trigger M into the passage in the chute throughwhich the cans must pass. The pin M is thus normally withdrawn from thepassage so that the cans may drop down and rest upon the projection MThe arm or trigger M has an extension M which projects downwardly intothe path of the carriers D The operation of the apparatus will then beas follows: The soldering-trough is filled with solder, the latter beingmelted by any of the usual modes of applying heat to the apparatus. Thepulleys being driven by any suitable power, as previously described, and

the cans delivered upon the belt K the move-v ment of the belt carriesthe cans and delivers them into the chute L in which they slide by theirown gravitation until the lowermost one rests upon the pin M As thecarriers D move forward, each of them will engage the arm M andthusactuate the trigger M, so as to withdraw the projecting lug M thusleaving the passage open so that the lowermost can will fall into thenext succeeding stall. This action coils the spring M and thus relievingthe spring M of its tension, the latter acts to pull upward upon thebell-crank lever M, the latter following the stop-pin M and in so doingit projects the lug or stop M" into the space just below the second canfrom the bottom of the chute, so that while the lowermost one falls intothe stall beneath the next one above is temporarily restrained by thestop ll As soon as the carrier D releases the arm M the parts resumetheir normal position, the stop M being projected and the stop M beingwithdrawn, so that another can will fall down upon the stop M inreadiness to be delivered to the next succeeding stall of the carrier.

Should any can arrive in the chute while the triggers are in action,that can will be held yieldingly against that part of the chute whichseparates the belt K from the cans by reason of the trigger M beingpressed against it by the action of the spring M until the carrierreleases the trigger M when the spring M will instantly withdraw thetrigger M and permit the can to slide down to the stop M from which itis again released by the action of the next following carrier D The cansthus released enter between the sides of the stall D and rest againstthe inclined plate B, sliding down until the lowermost angle rests uponthe bar 13 within the soldering-trough. The stall continuing to moveforward carries the can with it first in the position shown in Fig. 5,and as the can enters the soldering-trough the camways II commence toact upon the tumblers, and thus cause a continuous revolution of thelatter with the axle and the stall D in which the can is contained. Thisturning of the stall forces the can to roll over, first taking theposition shown in Fig. 6, then the position shown in Fig. 7, after whichthe next turn of the stall will lift the rear portion of the can androll it over into the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 6, andthen into the position shown in Fig. 5, the rolling con tinuing in thismanner until the seam of the can has been entirely exposed to the solderin the soldering trough. At the end of this trough the plate B iscontinued with such an incline as to permit the can to leave the stallwhich is then in such a position that the can can slide out through theopen side by gravitation. The can moves down this incline and isdelivered upon a belt N which passes around a pulley N, mounted looselyupon an axle N, which is secured to the support 1Y fastened to themachine. The opposite end of this belt passes around a pulley, (not hereshown,) to which power maybe applied to rotate it and cause the belt totravel. While the cans are thus being carried away upon this belt, thesolder upon the seams will be cooled sufficiently for the removal of thecans at the end of the belt.

As long as the receivingbelt K is supplied with cans, each stall will bythis mechanism receive a can, roll it through the machine and solder itsend seam in like manner, and after the cans are discharged the stallsare returned along the lower support J and are again brought over theopposite end into position to receive another can.

In soldering square cans the camways H will be constructed as shown inFig. 8, so as not to revolve the stalls D, but to hold them in position,as shown in Fig. 8, until one side seam of the can is completelysoldered when the camways will act on the tumbler and turn it and itsstall, so that the latter will roll or tilt the can over upon itscorner, as shown in Fig. 8, in which position it falls over upon thenext side.

In order to prevent the can from falling down abruptly and splashinginto the solder, I have shown a supplemental attachment or pusher O foreach of the stalls. This is so placed that as the can tilts over itsangle upon which it stands, as shown in Fig. 8, it will fall down uponthe pusher O and will then slide down the inclined portion of it, so asto pass gently into the solder with the next side submerged. It israised and tilted upon this side in the same manner as previouslydescribed, and so on until all four sides of the can have been soldered,when it is delivered from the machine in the same manner as describedfor the oval cans.

In the case of round cans no stalls will be required, as these cans canbe rolled along by the pushers pressing against them. The stalls orpushers may be used either upon a chain-carrier, as shown, or a wheel Emay be employed, which turns about a vertical axis 20 and acts to rotatethem in a horizontal circle, as shown in Fig. 9.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a soldering-machine, a series ofturnable stalls each having an opening through it in a plane at rightangles to the axis about which it turns, said opening adapted toreceive, confine and automatically deliver cans, each of said stallsbeing essentially [:-shaped in longitudinal section and having an axle,about which it turns, projecting at right an gles from its rear wall, asoldering-trough provided with means for supporting the lower edge ofthe can at a uniform depth in the solder and means for rotating thestalls.

2. In a can-soldering machine, a series of horizontally-moving stallseach having two opposing sides, an open front and a closed back fromwhich the axle of the stall projects, and having an opening through itin a plane at right angles to said axle, an angular guide parallel tothe line of travel of the cans and stalls against which the bottoms ofthe cans rest, whereby the seams at the lower angles are submerged inthe solder and a bar submerged within the solder upon which said anglesof the cans travel while being soldered.

3. In a can-soldering machine, a series of horizontally-moving stallswith parallel sides adapted to receive cans between said sides, ahorizontal soldering-trough containing molten solder, an angular guideagainst which the bottom of the can rests and a support upon which thelower edge travels surmerged within the solder, tumblers each havingarms arranged in pairs said tumblers being fixed upon the shafts whichcarry the stalls and independent camways upon which the arms of thetumblers travel and by which they are turned so as to rotate the stallsand cans and submerge the seam within the molten solder While the can ispassing through the length of the soldering-trough.

at. In a can-soldering machine, a series of horizontally-moving stallsadapted to receive and roll cans, means for rotating the stalls abouttheir axis, and turning the cans as the latter pass through the solder,a solderingtrough into which the seams of the cans are dipped whilebeing rolled by the stalls, and mechanism for feeding the canssuccessively into the openings of the stalls, consisting of a chute withoscillating stops, and an actuating-arm adapted to be engaged by themoving stalls or carrier whereby the cans are successively deliveredfrom the chute into the stall.

5. In a can-soldering machine, a series of horizontally-moving stallsadapted to receive rectangular cans, a solderingtrough in whichthe seamsof the cans are dipped, a mechanism whereby the stalls and cans arerotated to submerge the angular sides successively in the molten solder,and supplemental p ushers, one for each stall, adapted to move the cansand to receive and let them down into the solder when tilted from oneside to the next.

6. In a soldering-machine, a series of horizontally-moving stallsadapted to receive and roll cans, a soldering-trough into which theseams of the cans are dipped while being rolled by said stalls, anangular guide parallel to the line of travel of the cans and stallsagainst which guide the bottoms of the cans rest with the seams at thelower angles submerged in the solder, tumblers fixed upon the shaftswhich carry the stalls, and camways upon which the tumblers travel andby which they are turned so as to rotate the stalls and cans as thelatter pass through the solder, an endless carrier by which the stallsand cans are moved an d guides over which the tumblerarms pass wherebythe stalls are held in posi tion to receive the cans from the feedingdevice and present them to thesoldering-trough.

7. In a soldering-machine, a series of horizontally-movin g stallsadapted to receive and roll cans, a soldering-trough into which theseams of the cans are dipped while being rolled, and mechanism wherebythe stalls and cans are rotated, a delivery-chute through which the canspass, and means for delivering the cans singly and successively to thestalls as the latter pass the mouth of the chute, consisting ofspring-actuated triggers, an arm extending into the line of travel ofthe carrier so as to be intermittently actuated thereby, stopsprojecting from the triggers, one of said stops arresting the lowermostcan and the other arresting the can above when the trigger is so movedas to discharge the lowermost can, said uppermost trigger being movedout of the path of the cans when tl 1e lowermost one is returned to itsposition so as to allow the cans to move downward and another one torest upon the lowermost trigger preparatory to its discharge.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MATIIIAS JENSEN. lVitnesses:

O. XV. FULTON, ELLA RUCKER.

